Martin Drennan
Encyclopedia
Martin Drennan is the Roman Catholic Bishop
of the Diocese of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator
for the Diocese of Kilfenora.
, County Kilkenny
, Ireland
. He was ordained a priest
on 16 July 1968 for the Diocese of Ossory.
seminary
and the Biblical Institute, Rome
. Following this was two years of parish work at St Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny and Ballycallan parishes. He taught Scripture in St Kieran's College
, Kilkenny
(1973-80) and at Maynooth College
(1985-97).
He was Spiritual Director at the Pontifical Irish College
, Rome
(1980-85). On 28 May 1997, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
of Dublin
and Titular Bishop
of Aquae Regiae
.
was Cardinal Desmond Connell
; his principal co-consecrators were Archbishop Luciano Storero
, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, and Laurence Forristal, the Bishop of Ossory
.
, surrounding a sexual abuse
scandal in the Dublin archdiocese.
Bishop Drennan has said that he does not feel disturbed by being mentioned in the Dublin diocesan report. He said: "The report says nothing negative about me in fact, you know. I don’t think I have any questions to answer, in fact, from my own reflections on the time there .
The report itself says that it believed that the Archdiocese acted correctly in addressing the issue that relates to Dr Drennan especially in the absence of a charge being placed on the priest in question by civil authorities
More recently, clergy of Galway Diocese have stood behind Dr. Drennan and have supported his decision not to resign, as have heads of local religious orders, and a local TD Frank Fahy has said Dr Drennan should not resign.
There were further calls on 27 December for the resignation of Bishop Drennan following his insistence on 27 December that he does not intend doing so. He has also been invited to meet up to 60 survivors of child sex abuse by priests in the Dublin Diocese.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Diocese of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator
Apostolic Administrator
An apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
for the Diocese of Kilfenora.
Early life and ordination
He was born in PiltownPiltown
Piltown, historically known as Ballypoyle , is a small village in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It lies on the R698 regional road, which was the N24 national primary road before the locality was bypassed in 2002....
, County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. He was ordained a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
on 16 July 1968 for the Diocese of Ossory.
Professor and pastor
He studied at MaynoothMaynooth
Maynooth is a town in north County Kildare, Ireland. It is home to a branch of the National University of Ireland, a Papal University and Ireland's main Roman Catholic seminary, St. Patrick's College...
seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
and the Biblical Institute, Rome
Pontifical Biblical Institute
The Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, Italy is an institution of the Holy See run by the Jesuits that offers instruction at the university level...
. Following this was two years of parish work at St Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny and Ballycallan parishes. He taught Scripture in St Kieran's College
St Kieran's College
St. Kieran's College, Kilkenny, Ireland is primarily a Secondary school for boys. It has long been a nursery for hurling, and is located on College Road in Kilkenny in County Kilkenny, Ireland.- History :...
, Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
(1973-80) and at Maynooth College
St Patrick's College, Maynooth
St Patrick's College, Maynooth is the "National Seminary for Ireland" , and a Pontifical University, located in the village of Maynooth, 15 miles from Dublin, Ireland. The college and seminary are often referred to as Maynooth College. The college was officially established as the Royal College...
(1985-97).
He was Spiritual Director at the Pontifical Irish College
Pontifical Irish College
The Pontifical Irish College is a Roman Catholic seminary for the training and education of priests, in Rome.-Foundation and early history:Towards the close of the sixteenth century, Pope Gregory XIII had sanctioned the foundation of an Irish college in Rome, and had assigned a large sum of money...
, Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
(1980-85). On 28 May 1997, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Dublin
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin
The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dublin, , is a Roman Catholic archdiocese in eastern Ireland centred around the republic's capital city – Dublin. The see of Dublin was raised to the status of a Metropolitan Province by the Synod of Kells in 1152. Its jurisdiction includes much of the Province of...
and Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Aquae Regiae
Aquae Regiae
The Diocese of Aquae Regiae is a Titular See of present-day Tunisia in the Roman Catholic Church. The first Titular Bishop was appointed to this See on 17 March 1964. In Latin the diocese is known as Aquaregiensis. It is situated in the old Roman province of Byzacena....
.
Bishop
He was ordained a bishop on 21 September 1997. The principal consecratorConsecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
was Cardinal Desmond Connell
Desmond Connell
Desmond Connell is a cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church. He is a former Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland. He was born in Dublin....
; his principal co-consecrators were Archbishop Luciano Storero
Luciano Storero
Luciano Storero was born in Pinasca, Italy. He served in the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See.He was ordained a priest on 29 June 1949. On 22 November 1969 he was appointed Titular Archbishop of Tigimma and the same day was appointed an Apostolic Delegate...
, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, and Laurence Forristal, the Bishop of Ossory
Bishop of Ossory
The Bishop of Ossory is an episcopal title which takes its name after the ancient of Kingdom of Ossory in the Province of Leinster, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bishoprics.-History:The diocese of Ossory...
.
Abuse scandal
Since November 2009, many have called for him to resign from his post for his mention and investigation as part of the Murphy ReportMurphy Report
The Murphy Report is the brief name of the report of an investigation conducted by government of Ireland into the Sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic archdiocese of Dublin...
, surrounding a sexual abuse
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
scandal in the Dublin archdiocese.
Bishop Drennan has said that he does not feel disturbed by being mentioned in the Dublin diocesan report. He said: "The report says nothing negative about me in fact, you know. I don’t think I have any questions to answer, in fact, from my own reflections on the time there .
The report itself says that it believed that the Archdiocese acted correctly in addressing the issue that relates to Dr Drennan especially in the absence of a charge being placed on the priest in question by civil authorities
More recently, clergy of Galway Diocese have stood behind Dr. Drennan and have supported his decision not to resign, as have heads of local religious orders, and a local TD Frank Fahy has said Dr Drennan should not resign.
There were further calls on 27 December for the resignation of Bishop Drennan following his insistence on 27 December that he does not intend doing so. He has also been invited to meet up to 60 survivors of child sex abuse by priests in the Dublin Diocese.